Note : These nouns were formerly plural in sense as well as in form. News, for example, originally meant “new things." Shakespeare uses it both as a singular and as a plural. Thus….“This news was brought to Richard" (King John, v. 3. 12) and “But wherefore do I tell these news to thee?" (1 Henry IV, iii. 2. 121). In a few words modern usage varies. The following nouns are sometimes singular, sometimes plural….alms, amends, bellows, means, pains (in the sense of “effort"), tidings.